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Prairie Du Sac Wi

Well .. After weeks of wondering why I had yellowing of the leaves at the stump of one of my two plants I finally discovered it is two spotted spider mites. IM kicking myself for not getting it earlier. This is my first time with melons and my first time with mites. Because of this wonderful site I learned that Avid can help me. Dam the price of it but I have it on the way. It will be 3 to 6 days. So... My ? Is...should I cut off all the affected leaves right now ( about 50 by the stump and running out on some of the vines ) and burn them ? Or should I let them feed off them to keep them by the stump till I get the avid to try and zap them all with it? The plant still has plenty of green left in it but the fruit is slowing. My next ? Is hard for me to ask. But ... Should I pull the plant? I have ONLY two plants. The affected plant is down wind of my best plant that has no signs of mites at all and the fruit is bigger and growing faster and the plant is looking better. They both are in opposite corners of a 20 by 20 plot growing toward each other. They haven't met up yet. I hate to put all my eggs in one basket but IM going to go with what you guys think would be best. Also today is my birthday and its the same day that my bigger melon hit the ott charts!!!!How cool is that!
Well its cool to me.lol.......so should I pull the plant or wait for the Avid?? I can send pics or vid of what I got going if anyone would like a better look. (just post an email).
thankyou all for all your help you have gave me so far and I don't plan on letting a tiny bug stop my year.

7/14/2012 2:39:23 AM

Muddy Waters

Run down to your local garden center & get some safer (True Value has it)soap.Start spraying the bottoms of the leafs asap!.I would do this about 8 pm.TODAY!!!Oh! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

7/14/2012 5:15:36 AM

Bethlehem CT

In my experience with mites they don't seem to travel that well. I would cut off all the severely infected leaves. Then spray both plants with the Avid when it arrives.

7/14/2012 8:04:22 AM

Prairie Du Sac Wi

thanks!!! im on it!

7/15/2012 11:11:30 PM